Sir, - In the welter of argument on the childcare provisions in the Budget, the preoccupation with economic issues has been baffling. A writer in a Sunday newspaper put this in a nutshell: "After all, the women who currently stay at home to mind their children do so for one of two reasons; either they can afford to stay at home, or they can't afford to go out to work."
Out of the fog, your estimable Medb Ruane (Opinion, December 6th) emerged with a bright lantern of wisdom: "If the things we do for love don't count, then why do we bother to love at all?"
With the dedication that characterised her generation, Mairead Allen reared a family of seven on a policeman's pay - counting the pennies, but looking out as well for the cultural well-being of our children. Most assuredly, she would have added her signature to this letter of thanks to Medb Ruane. - Yours, etc.
Gregory Allen, Upper Kilmacud Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.